WORK will begin on a major new sports park and library later this year, Havering Council has confirmed.
Both facilities will be created under the Harold Hill Ambitions programme, but according to the authority their benefits will be felt beyond the immediate community.
The council says the sports park in particular will be a "major boost" to sport in Havering and that it will complement the new leisure centre, pool and ice rink planned for Romford.
The sports park on the council-owned site at Broxhill was one of the key pledges in the Harold Hill Ambitions programme.
The park will offer a wide range of sports throughout the year, as well as community gardens and children's play activities.
A new state-of-the-art library will also start to take shape this year in the Hilldene shopping centre – a replacement for the existing facility on Hilldene Avenue.
The library will be situated in the eastern arcade, off Farnham Road, within the Hilldene shopping centre and will be significantly bigger than the existing 1950s building and offer much-improved facilities.
It is believed that the new location will help to increase the number of people visiting the shopping centre and encourage local business.
It is one of the improvements to be funded from the sale of land at Gooshays, subject to planning procedures.
Councillor Steven Kelly, lead member for Harold Hill Ambitions, said: "I am delighted to announce that work will begin on two great new facilities in Harold Hill this year.
"We're putting a fantastic new library right at the heart of the community, which will draw more people to the area, keep it vibrant and build on the great success of Harold Hill Ambitions so far.
"The new sports park will be very special indeed.
"It's something really different for the borough and will bring people together to enjoy sport and have fun in a beautiful setting.
"We're looking forward to launching our detailed plans in the near future and seeing what local people think."
